Café Nunes (Café da Fajã dos Vimes) – São Jorge Island

The Café Nunes is located on the southern coast of São Jorge Island, in Fajã dos Vimes, which has a population of about 70 people and is part of the parish of Rica Seca in the municipality of Calheta.

The coffee served at Café Nunes, the Café da Fajã dos Vimes, is well-known for having been the only coffee produced in Europe for a long time. The café owner has a small coffee plantation behind his house, where the coffee is produced and prepared by his family.

Many tourists visit the small fajã to experience Café Nunes and taste the delicious coffee, which is distinguished by being organic and having a unique texture and aroma.

(C) Café Nunes @ Google

In addition to Café Nunes, the Nunes family is also known for their handicrafts. The women in the family engage in traditional weaving and make rugs. At the entrance to the Fajã, you can see a sign that reads “Café da Fajã Nunes and Nunes Handicraft House,” the two main attractions of Fajã dos Vimes.

History of Café Nunes

At the end of the 18th century, a man, who was likely the great-grandfather of the current owner Manuel Nunes, emigrated to Brazil and worked on a coffee plantation. In the early 19th century, upon returning to São Jorge Island, he decided to bring back some Arabica coffee seeds, which led to the creation of the famous coffee from Fajã dos Vimes.

The coffee adapted well to the fajãs’ climate. The first coffee plantation on the island was established in Fajã de São João and was later brought to Fajã dos Vimes. Other fajãs have coffee plants, but only Mr. Manuel Nunes has a plantation dedicated to production.

Mr. Nunes

(C) Café Nunes @ Google

Manuel Nunes is the owner of Café Nunes and is responsible for producing his own coffee. When he purchased the land about two decades ago, there were only a few plants, but he has since increased the plantation area, and production continues to grow each year.

Coffee Plantation and Production

Manuel has over 500 coffee plants growing in the land behind his house. Café Nunes is the only café in Fajã dos Vimes that sells this coffee, making it the only place on the island where you can try it.

The production is small; initially, it was for personal use, but now it is the largest production in the archipelago. Manuel produces over 700 kg per year. The entire process is manual; he cultivates the beans, dries them in the sun, roasts them on his home stove, and then serves them in his café. The coffee has a unique flavor, with tasters describing it as strong and unmistakable.

(C) Café Nunes @ Google

The coffee is organic and does not use chemicals. There are no insects on the island that threaten the beans, so no pesticides are used. The fajã’s climate is suitable for coffee, with low altitude, high humidity, and fertile soil, creating ideal conditions for producing the famous coffee from Fajã dos Vimes.

The coffee is harvested between May and September, but this depends on the weather and when the beans are ready for picking.